Help Cambridge Fire and Police Support Toys-for-Tots and Secret Santa for Seniors This Holiday Season

The Cambridge Fire and Police Departments are once again seeking donations for their respective holiday drives to help children and seniors in need.

Cambridge Firefighters Join with Marines in Annual “Toys-for-Tots” Drive
Cambridge Firefighters will once again partner with the United States Marine Corps Reserve in collecting toys in the annual “Toys-for-Tots” drive. In existence for over 70 years, the program was started in Los Angeles, CA when a handful of Marine Reservists distributed 5,000 toys to needy children on Christmas Eve 1947.

Since its inception, 251,000,000 needy children throughout the United States have benefited from the donation of over 548,000,000 toys.

Toys-for-Tots is a program that brings all elements of a community together for a common cause for a few weeks each year, dedicated to helping in the development of our children. Toys-for-Tots delivers a message of hope to children who have little reason to have hope for the future.

The Cambridge Fire Department is once again proud to work with the Marines in this great endeavor. New, unwrapped toys may be dropped off at any Cambridge Fire Station until Thursday December 13, 2018.

For further information, contact Acting Chief Gerard Mahoney at (617) 349-4970 or visit the Cambridge Fire Department web site at http://www.cambridgefire.org

Support the Cambridge Police Department’s Secret Santa for Seniors Gift Drive
Now in its 12th year, the Cambridge Police’s “Secret Santa for Seniors” gift drive will accept donations now through Friday, Dec. 21. Gifts can be dropped off in the first floor main lobby of the Robert W. Healy Public Safety Facility at 125 Sixth Street or at City Hall at 795 Massachusetts Avenue in the City Clerk’s Office. Additional locations this year include the Cambridge Public Health Department at 116 Windsor Street, Trader Joe’s at 748 Memorial Drive, East Cambridge Savings Bank at 292 Cambridge Street, Mount Auburn Hospital at 300 Mount Auburn Street, Reservoir Church at 170 Rindge Avenue, Trader Joe’s at 211 Alewife Brook Parkway and Whole Foods at 200 Alewife Brook Parkway.

Over the dozen years of this program, the Cambridge Police and the community have brought joy to thousands of senior citizens. We are looking forward to bringing even more cheer to our seniors this year.

The following suggested items – unwrapped – would be greatly appreciated: